NHL on Tap: Canucks look to get untracked against Senators

Welcome to the NHL on Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they are most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their choices from the one game Monday between the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks.

Horvat's production

There haven't been many bright spots for the Vancouver Canucks in the early part of this season, but Bo Horvat has been one. The Canucks captain has scored eight points (five goals, three assists) in seven games and will look for more against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena on Monday (10 p.m. ET; NHLN, SNP, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV). The scoring has come in bunches for Horvat, who has three multipoint games, including a three-point game (two goals, one assist) against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 20. The Canucks have several things to be concerned about. Horvat isn't one of them. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Zaitsev's strong start

Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev has made a positive impact for the Senators this season. He has five assists and is plus-five through five games. His average ice time of 21:28 per game is second behind his defense partner Thomas Chabot (24:11). Zaitsev's strong play can't be overstated, especially considering that Ottawa goalies Matt Murray (.880) and Marcus Hogberg (.875) each have save percentages under .900 to start the season. It's feasible to suggest the Senators could get their second win by relying on Zaitsev and Chabot to help contain Vancouver's top line of forwards J.T. Miller, Jake Virtanen and Elias Pettersson. -- Rob Reese, fantasy editor

Someone's slump is going to end

The Canucks (2-5-0), one point ahead of the last-place Senators (1-3-1) in the Scotia North Division, have lost two straight games and five of their past six. Their minus-13 goal differential is the worst in the NHL. Vancouver absolutely must tighten up defensively, having surrendered at least five goals in five of their seven games, including four straight. Goalie Braden Holtby, who has a 3.70 goals-against average and .888 save percentage, needs to be better. The Senators hope to end a four-game winless skid (0-3-1), not having won since defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 in their first game of the season. One game into a seven-game road trip, Ottawa is just as desperate as Vancouver to find the win column. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Monday schedule

Ottawa Senators at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. ET (NHLN, SNP, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV)
The Canucks are the most penalized team in the NHL (an average of 14.0 minutes per game) and the Senators are second (13.0 minutes per game). Each team has struggled on the power play. Vancouver is 24th (13.0 percent) and Ottawa is 23rd (15.0 percent).